Indie
Ernie Hudson Toplines ‘State of Hate’ Thriller
Management for Hollywood veteran Ernie Hudson, best known for his recurring role as Winston Zeddemore in the ‘Ghostbuster’ films, has confirmed that the Michigan native is attached to star in the upcoming feature film, A State of Hate (said to be inspired by true events) for Lansing, Mich.-based production company Collective Development Inc.
Hudson will play Nate Wallace, the father of a young murder victim in a small Michigan town in 1976.
“A State of Hate” takes place between Memorial Day and America’s bi-centennial Fourth of July celebrations in 1976, in a small farming community an hour north of Detroit. During a period still simmering with racial divide and tensions over the Civil Rights movement and desegregation, the murder of a beautiful, vibrant young black woman from the only “colored” family in the county, immediately focuses suspicion on a highly active klavern of the Ku Klux Klan, led by its avuncular leader, “Pastor Bill” (Mills). Michigan State Police Detective Lynn Kendall (DJ Perry) is called in to assist the inexperienced local police chief Mark Yando (Carlucci Weyant, “Karma: Crime, Passion and Reincarnation,” “Locked in a Room”) with an investigation that will take them deep into the secretive world of the KKK.
The screenplay for “A State of Hate” was penned by award-winning filmmaker, journalist and author Anthony Hornus (Story), who will direct, and New York Times bestselling authors Diane Carey and Greg Brodeur (Star Trek series).
While the final “Star Casting” continues for the project, which will be filmed on location entirely in Michigan, attached talent includes DJ Perry, who reprises his role as Detective Lynn Kendall from the recently released Special Edition of “An Ordinary Killer” (Based on a True Story), as well as Renee O’ Connor, best known for Gabrielle on “Xena: The Warrior Princess”; Terence Knox (“An Ordinary Killer,” “Tour of Duty”); Tony Becker (“Dean Teaster’s Ghost Town,” “Tour of Duty”); Renee Geerlings (“Halloween II”); and, actor-comedian-singer Johnny Dark, best known for his recurring comedic bits on “Late Night with David Letterman.”
Pictured: DJ Perry and Terence Knox in the original “An Ordinary Killer”
Her House of Horrors, the horror division of Independent Production House WOMXNOGRAPHY, has launched its Bite Size Short Grant Program, ahead of its film festival Dollhouse of Horror, which will take place in March 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
The Bite Size Short Grant Program awards $2,000 film grants to female-identifying and queer horror filmmakers. Shorts must be able to be made for $2,000, with a minimum runtime of 8 minutes. Submissions are now open on Filmfreeway, and are being judged by a panel of horror lovers and content creators.
The 2024 Bite Size Short Grant Program judge lineup is as follows:
“James H. Carter II- A documentary director, film producer, podcaster, marketing specialist, and writer. James is the founder and co-owner of Creepy Kingdom. Creepy Kingdom was founded in 2011 and is a multimedia website, and production studio specializing in creepy content. Their primary focus lies at the intersection of childlike fantasy and the macabre, covering horror films, theme parks, haunts, and much more. Beyond their extensive media coverage, Creepy Kingdom hosts events, offers original merchandise, and engages in film production under the Creepy Kingdom Studios brand producing original films like “Foolish Mortals”, exploring Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” fan culture, and “Georgie”, featuring Tony Dakota from the original “It” miniseries.
“In addition to founding Creepy Kingdom, James has won awards for his documentary work, including the award-winning “Foolish Mortals,” which has earned him recognition. He has been featured on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween special.
“Ashleeta Beauchamp is the editor-in-chief of Peek-A-Boo! Magazine, a cheeky horror magazine created to uplift marginalized writers, artists, models and other creators within the horror community. She also runs The Halloween Coalition, a community group to provide support and marketing for horror and Halloween events around the Southern California area.
“Titeanya Rodríguez is a multi-hyphenate creative, and the founder and owner of HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, home of DOLLHOUSE OF HORROR and the horror division of WOMXNOGRAPHY. As a fellow storyteller and a self-proclaimed artivist, Titeanya’s mission is to create opportunities for women of color and queer women, across film, tv, sports, music, and beyond. She is also the creator of the BITE SIZE SHORT grant program.”
Winners will have a one-night theatrical screening at Regal Cinemas. Submissions Close April 8 at Midnight. Winners will be announced on May 27, 2024. Shorts must be shot and through post-production by June 30, 2024. The screening will take place on July 8, 2024, in Los Angeles, CA.
WOMXNOGRAPHY, HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, and Rodriguez are represented by Azhar PR, Granderson Des Rochers, and Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir.
To submit your short to the Bite Size Short Grant Program, go to the FilmFreeway link here.
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